'Steve Smith, David Warner should have played in Sheild, BBL'

Darren Lehmann (L) feels Steve Smith (R) and David Warner will not get enough games before the Ashes

On a day when Australia were on the brink of their first Test series loss to India at home in 71 years, banned former captain Steve Smith and David Warner were leading their respective sides Comilla Victorians and Sylhet Sixers against each other in the Bangladesh Premier League in Dhaka.

Both are 81 days away from serving out their one-year ban for their role in Sandpapergate during the Cape Town Test in March last year.

Another man who had to pay the price for the ball-tampering incident that embarrassed the whole nation was then-coach Darren Lehmann. His position became untenable and the former World Cup winner had to quit his post.

Lehmann, who is doing radio commentary these days, questioned why the duo is not being allowed to play in Australian first-class cricket and the Big Bash League.

Speaking to Mirror, Lehmann said, "I think they should have been allowed to play domestic cricket. They are playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, the IPL and Pakistan Super League. I thought they should be able to play Shield Cricket and the BBL. There is just one four-day tour game that they will get to play before the Ashes."

Lehmann refused to comment on whether their year-long ban was harsh. But he maintained that the duo's absence has made an huge impact on the outcome of the India series.

Asked if Australia are desperate to get them back, Lehmann said, "If you take two world-class players out of any batting unit, the impact would be big. Say if you take Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara out of the Indian batting unit or Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow from the England batting unit, or Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor from New Zealand, you are going to lose a fair bit of runs.

"So you just have to hope that someone else steps up and gets those runs. That certainly has not happened for Australia in the current series."

Pujara the difference

The former c oach said that the Indian batting and especially Cheteshwar Pujara made a huge impact on the series. "The batting has been a big difference, especially Pujara. In this series he has been the wall. He has just blunted the attack and made three great hundreds. Look at his show in this Test, he deserved a double hundred.

"Both the teams have good bowling attacks but India have outplayed Australia at the basics of the game. Many Australian batsmen got starts but no one was able to get to an hundred and this probably was the most disappointing thing for Australia in the series," Lehmann said.

He then paid a big compliment to Pujara while talking about questions being raised about the strength and depth of the Australian domestic structure.

Lehmann said, "The talent and skill is there. It is about application and batting for longer periods of time. If they have learnt anything this year, it has to be from Pujara's batting. He bats time and long time. He just waits for the ball that is in his areas. That is a good learning example for a young batting group."

World-class Bumrah

Like everyone else who has watched the series, Lehmann has been mighty impressed with how Jasprit Bumrah has bowled.

"Bumrah has been unbelievable. He is world class. He has done everything possible to get the results for India. Kohli has used him well.

"Kohli has used him when a new batter has come in. He, as everyone knows, is difficult to pick when a new batsman comes in."

Speaking about Kohli and how he batted and led in the series, Lehmann said, "Kohli got key runs at times. He has led the side well. A big tick for him for that. He has picked good and aggressive sides to win Tests. I liked how he picked two fast bowlers and two spinners here. Of course a lot depended on the toss. He won it here, the batsmen got runs and then the spinners came into play."

One of the key takeaways from the series has been how the Indian bowlers have been able to get more out of the Kookaburra ball, new or old, than the host bowlers.

Lehmann puts it down to India winning three tosses of four.

"Well you need to look at the fact that India won the toss in both Melbourne and in Sydney where wickets are at their best in the early days. In Melbourne the wicket did offer some turn and was up and down after the first two days when India batted for most sessions.

"Still no excuse, Australia should have batted better but the conditions suited India. Winning the toss was crucial in both those Test matches."

Toss mattered

There have been some suggestions that post Sandpapergate, the Australian bowlers have not been able to get the kind of reverse swing they did during the Ashes at home in 2017-18.

But Lehmann again put it down to winning the toss. "When you bat first, you get reverse when you come out to bowl. That's the natural thing that happens all around the world.

"In Adelaide India batted first and got the reverse. In Perth there was no reverse as the wicket was too quick. In Melbourne India batted first and got reverse, Sydney again it was similar case. So it's just about the wear and tear of the wicket that happens as the game progresses.

"If you go back to the Ashes last year it was the same. Australia batted first all the time. As the wickets and square get old, wear-tear happens, the ball gets affected and starts to reverse."

Also under the scanner is the Australian domestic structure and some are calling it systemic failure, but Lehmann defended it. "As far as systemic failure (is concerned), all I can say is that there is enough talent in Australia to get back to where they want to be. It is about learning from mistakes and working hard on their games.

"They are just lacking a bit of confidence. But that happens when you are not winning games of cricket. They will be fine. You lose games of cricket. I am now looking forward to watching the ODI series."

The buzzword in Australian cricket is Elite Honesty, thanks to current coach Justin Langer.

The idea has been met with more ridicule than seriousness. Lehmann doesn't say much but shoots back, "They are just playing the game. You want a side that plays hard and fair. Both sides have done that. This series Australia haven't made enough runs and that's what the result is down to. The players do get unfairly judged sometimes."

If you take two world class players out of any batting unit, the impact would be big. Say if you take Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara out of the Indian batting unit, you are going to lose a fair bit of runs. -

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